\Al*le"vi*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Alleviated}; p.
pr. & vb. n. {Alleviating}.] [LL. alleviare, fr. L. ad +
levis light. See {Alegge}, {Levity}.]
1. To lighten or lessen the force or weight of. [Obs.]
         Should no others join capable to alleviate the
         expense.                              --Evelyn.
         Those large bladders . . . conduce much to the
         alleviating of the body [of flying birds]. --Ray.
2. To lighten or lessen (physical or mental troubles); to
   mitigate, or make easier to be endured; as, to alleviate
   sorrow, pain, care, etc.; -- opposed to {aggravate}.
         The calamity of the want of the sense of hearing is
         much alleviated by giving the use of letters. --Bp.
                                               Horsley.
3. To extenuate; to palliate. [R.]
         He alleviates his fault by an excuse. --Johnson.
Syn: To lessen; diminish; soften; mitigate; assuage; abate;
     relieve; nullify; allay.
Usage: To {Alleviate}, {Mitigate}, {Assuage}, {Allay}. These
       words have in common the idea of relief from some
       painful state; and being all figurative, they differ
       in their application, according to the image under
       which this idea is presented. Alleviate supposes a
       load which is lightened or taken off; as, to alleviate
       one's cares. Mitigate supposes something fierce which
       is made mild; as, to mitigate one's anguish. Assuage
       supposes something violent which is quieted; as, to
       assuage one's sorrow. Allay supposes something
       previously excited, but now brought down; as, to allay
       one's suffering or one's thirst. To alleviate the
       distresses of life; to mitigate the fierceness of
       passion or the violence of grief; to assuage angry
       feeling; to allay wounded sensibility.